Step-ladder.



H. B. TURNER.

STEP LADDER.

APPLIUATIOH FILED DEO.1B,190B.

930,333. Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

In Gian M so?axrss lrtTENZE owlon.

HERBERT n. TURNER, on LINTON, lNlHANA s'rsrmanmin.

Specification of Letters latent. application iilednecembcrls, 1911s. "serial no. l e-e194.

To all whom 'it may concern:

ljle itknown that I PIERBERT 'B. TURNER, citizen of the United States, resident of Linton, 1n the county-of Greenc and State of *Indiana, have made n. certain new and useful Invention in- Step Ladders; and I declarejthe followin to b'e-ja fu'll, clear, and exact description 0 the same, such as will enable others skilled in' the art to which it ap rtains'to make and use the invention,

closed against the i stop section. Fi'gJ 3 is a similar view with theprop collapsed and the v lower partof the step section turned back against the same; Fi 4 is a'detail section 0 the upper part 0 the ladder with the prop closed. i5. 5 is a detail section of the upper part 0 the ladder with the prop thrown out. Fig. 6 is n. detail perspective view of the joint of the brace arms. Fig. 7 is a detail cross section of the clam for the parts of the prop. Fig. 8 is a etail perspective view of the catch for the parts of the step section.

' The invention has relationto folding or collapsible step ladders having for its object the provision of an improved ladder the step and prop sections of which are separately foldahle, the entire ladder folding into a small space for storage or shipping purposes. V

Other objects and advantages will hereinaflcrap pear.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the letter 0,, designates the step section of the ladder and I), theprop section. This step section is made in two parts a, (1', having hinged connection at (f, at the rear of the same. The rep section is made in two parts 7), 7), aving telescoping or sliding engagement with each other, the slidahle cu agemcnt being fixed by means of a screw c amp c, carried at the upper end of the lower part I), and embracing both prop parts. llulh rails oF the upper part 71f", oi' the prop have enlarged upper or head portions c. 0, provided with slots (1', 1:, having engagement willie transverse rod f, forming the prop hinge and located at tho Patented Aug. a 1969.

rear portion of the rails of the step section ofthc ladder.

y is a hinged .hracc, pivotallyconnected to opposite rails of the step and prop sectionsof the ladder, one arm ofeach brace havinga reduced inner end portion g, and

the other arm thcrcofhaving a intern-1 top flange designed to come in'tobr'acing engagement with the portion 13'', when the 'two arms are in silinement.

In folding the ladder into small 5 lower npwar ace the screw clamp heingfirst released and after:

-and the folded prop turned upon its hinge toward the step section, the folded arms of ward tightened to secure the adjustment. The braces g, are then bowed upward the braces fitting within notched portions It, h, at the inner rear portions of the ste sect-ion rails, and theprop, which is of widt less than or equal to the interval between the rails of the step section, fitting partly within the rails of the up er art ofthe step section at the rear of the steps 41, i,

the prop hingein line with the pro when in use, and when the pro is folde to the steps allowing a neat para lel folding. The

step sections are next folded together, the

two parts of each rail folding back to back andnt each side of and incloslng the part oi. the folded prop not received within the" rails of the upper part of the st?) section, the steps j, of the lower part 0' the step section being notched at j", j, to receive the outer portion of the folded prop.

In unfolding the ladder for use the parts of the step section have stop abutment at their inner ends when the parts are in alinemcnt, it being impossible for the parts to Fold together while the ladder is in use as the st rain upon the ladder tends to make this stop abutment more Secure. At the same time a spring catch device It", is employed at the meeting ends of the parts having automatic engagement with a pm 7:, of one part when the two parts arealined. The disengagement of this spring catch dovice is equally automatic. It is also impossible for the parts of the prop section to more with relation to each othcr when adjusted to osition, owin to the screw clamps, which effectually (damp the parts and within note es 2', 1i, formed- H thereof The slots 1;, c, are for the purpose of bringing (part of the prop section is fat slid -within the upper part thereof, the

together. The braces conneetin the step and prop sections are prevented 'rom droppin below the horizontal or out of line. A six out ladder can thus be folded and stored in a three foot space, yet when unfolded and read for use it is strong and equally servieeablb as the ordinary step ladder.

Having thus described my invention, what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A step ladder having a step section composed-of two parts havinga hinge connection, a prop section composed of two slidable-parts having means for maintaining the same in position as adjusted, the parts of the ste section having inner seats for receiving etween them when folded the folded parts of the prop section.-

2. A step ladder having a step section composed of two parts, a pro section having upper end liortions provi ed with slots avmg end we in line with the prop and composed of two slidable parts having means for maintaining the same in position as adjusted, a hinge rod carried by the step 25 section engaging said slots and capable of abutting against said end walls when the prop is turned outward, whereby the two sections of the ladder may be folded jn parallel relation, the parts of said step sec- 30 tion having inn'er seats for receiving between them when folded the folded parts of the prop section. 3. A step-ladder havin r a step section con'iposed of two parts having a hinge com 35 IIQCLJOIII at the rear, and the steps of which' have rear notches, .a prop section composed of two slidable parts having clamp means for maintaining the same in osition as 11th justed and capable when fol iied of fitting 40 H] thestep notches of both step section parts.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature, in presence 0 "two witnesses.

HERBERT B. TURNER Witnesses:

J on E. BEABLEY, ANNA COAKLEY. 

